In a move that was widely expected, Nuggets guard Bruce Brown declined his $6.8 million player option on Wednesday, league sources confirmed to The Denver Post. As a result, Brown, one of the key pieces of the Nuggets’ championship run, will be a free agent.
Though the Nuggets can’t offer as much as other teams, Denver intends to offer him the maximum amount it can — $7.8 million for next season, another league source said. It’s possible Brown signs a two-year deal with a second-year option that allows the Nuggets to give him a more lucrative extension next summer.
In the aftermath of the Nuggets’ title run, Brown told The Post he “wanted to stay” in Denver and that money wasn’t everything. Of course, it’s easy to say that in the afterglow of a championship.
If he stays, Brown would incur some level of risk for deferring what could be a significant payday until next summer. But if he does, it would speak volumes about the culture and environment the Nuggets have created in Denver. Brown was miscast as a forward in Brooklyn before landing in Denver last offseason. Perhaps the only reason the Nuggets were able to afford him in free agency was because they accurately envisioned him as a guard. That pitch, even if it came on the second day of free agency, landed well with Brown.
Brown was the Nuggets’ most reliable player off the bench and routinely slotted into the starting lineup when injuries arose. Brown registered career-highs in points (11.5) and minutes (28.5) this past season. His defensive versatility made him a favorite of coach Michael Malone’s, and he fit in seamlessly with Denver’s no-nonsense locker room.
If Brown were to stay, the Nuggets would return the vast majority of their championship rotation and would head into next season among the favorites. Without him, the Nuggets would have significant depth issues in their backcourt off the bench.
At the championship parade, Brown teased the crowd by asking if he should return. Malone, to the crowd’s delight, was adamant that Brown wasn’t going anywhere.
Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.
